Theatrical



025-59 AU 291 gx x 391,628

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. P. WILSON.

THEATRIGAL APPLIANCE.

No. 397,678. atented Feb. 12. 9,

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N "272. MUM wawm. n c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

F. WILSON. THEATRIGAL APPLIANCE.

Patented Feb. 12, 1889.

MINA/mix A TTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OE TICE.

l lilil) \YHSUN. tll" TH EATRICAL APPLIANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 397,678, dated February 12, 1889.

Application filed July 21, 1888. Serial No. 280,641. iN'o model.

l To a when: if Ill I I] concern:

Be it known that I, FRED WILSON, of the city, county. and State of New York,have. in vented a new and useful Improvement in Theatrical Appliances, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

'My invention relates to an improvement in theatrical appliances, and has for its object to provide a means whereby the interior of connecting rooms will be accurately representedone room containing an electrical death-chair and apparatus for manipulating the same and the adjoining room an electric plant connected with the said death-chair; and the further object of the invention is to provide a simple and convenient means for manipulat iug the death-chair and connecting the chair with the electric plant.

The invention consists in the construction and combination oi. the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and 'iointed out in the claims.

Referenceisto he had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the scene. and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

In carrying out the invention, A represents the floor of the stage, and B the foot-lights. The stage is divided into two rooms orehamhers, B and B by a flat, B extending perpendiculz'irly from the floor upward and from the rear of the stage to a point approximating the foot-lights, whereby the interior of the several chambers may be fully ex 'iosed to view from the frontof the stage. The flat h at or near the rear may. if desired, be provided with a door, h. In the chamber B a dynamo, D, of any suitable construction, is located adjacent to the flat, or a model or representation of a dynamo maybe substituted for a practical machine. To the front of the dynamo and at one side thereof an enginc, E, is secured to the stage, the fly-wheel c of which is rotated hya suitable piston-rod, e, and any approved connections between the flywhecl shaft and said rod. The dynamo is provided with a drive-pulley, (I, and the said pulley is belted to the fly-wheel of the engine. cealed thereby a small electric battery, D, is

' located, being secured to the lloor or other To the rear of the dynamo and conconvenient support.

Upon the side ol' 1h tlat Il in the chamber I3 a push-button, l". is held to reciprocate, having connection with the wires ll and ii. emanating, res u-clively, from the dynamo and small battery. Within the chamber 1F a death-chair, .\l. is placed upon the tloor of the stage, which chair consists of a body, m. pivoted upon the hind legs, 1):, which legs are stationary. The body of the chair is constructed with an integral seat. u. back allegsupport 11", toot-rest n". and arm-rests a. and the upper surface of the back is .oneaved to constitute a headrest. o. l'pon the head rest, at the foot ot the chair-body and upon the arms. incandescent lamps N are secured, having connection through wires of with the push-button I, whereby when said button is pressed a circuit will llt' cmnplclcd and the lamps illuminated. suitable circuit is also established between the dynamo and the chair. The extremities of the chair-body are so weighted that the back will be held normally in vertical position and a perfect halance be obtained even when the chair isoccu pied. the purpose of the equipoise being to enable the body ol the chair when occupied or unoccupied to he placed at an inclination or in a horizontal position. The chair is provided with suitable apertures, It, for the introduction of the wires to the lamps, which apertures are usually surrounded with metal plates. The arm-rests, toota'est, and heath rest are. preferably const rucied of metal.

The electric lamps are preferably sunken in the chair-frame, in order that they may be essentially invisible from the front of the house, the object being to produce a flash from an unseen source.

Having thus fullydescrihed my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Iat3cnt l. The combination olf a stage, a mechanical structure reprcsentiugthe interior of ad joining compartments, a chair in one coinpartmcnt having electric lamps mounted thereon, a push-button adjacent to said chair, a battery in the adjoining eoinpartment,wires connected wilh said battery and push-button, and wires connected with said lamps ongaging said button, all arranged to operate 

